breakaway pin work with no battery?

[HilaryStep]

If you remove the deep cycle batteries from trailer, will the breakaway switch still work? I am in the process of installing 2 Sears Diehard Platinum PM2-34M batteries in my 2005 International. (I have been remiss about battery maintenance in the past.) I store my travel trailer about an hour from my house. If I charge the batteries before I head off to storage, then remove them for the winter, will the breakaway switch still work in case of accidental separation from the tow vehicle? Where does the breakaway switch get its power from?

[Excella CM]

The switch will still work, but the brakes wont! The switch merely connects the electric brakes to a power source. You need a power source. You could use a motorcycle battery since you would at most make one stop, but you must have a source on the trailer. While connected to you tow vehicle, the battery in it will work the trailer brakes, but only while the umbilicle is connected. If the trailer gets loose the umbilicle will be disconnected. Welcome to the forums!

[azflycaster]

On my 75 TW the power to the switch comes from the battery and/or the charge line from the TV. In that case the break away would work untill the cable from the TV unhooks. At that point the breaks would unlock and the trailer is on it's own. Not a good situation.